Current WWE Superstar Bobby Lashley could make the leap back into combat sports under the BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) banner.
Following Lashley’s appearance at WWE’s Money in the Bank event on July 2nd, the pro wrestler spoke to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful about the possibility of competing in combat sports once again. Following his first run in professional wrestling, ‘The Dominator’ turned to MMA, going 5-0 under the Bellator banner before re-signing with WWE.
According to Lashley, “a bare-knuckle boxing company rep” approached him with the possibility of facing boxing legend Mike Tyson at an event to be held in Madison Square Garden. Lashley was reportedly honored to be presented with the opportunity, but noted that it would be a “feeling out process.”
Steven Muehlhausen of DAZN confirmed on Twitter that BKFC was in fact the “bare-knuckle boxing company” that Bobby Lashley had referenced.
“Confirmed: The company that has approached Lashley is Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC),” said Muehlhausen on Twitter. Lashley has talked with them in the past as has Tyson, but money was a stumbling block then and isn’t the case now. Tyson is back training in the gym with Rafael Cordeiro.”
This is Not the First Time BKFC Has Approached Bobby Lashley
BKFC has shown interest in getting into the Bobby Lashley business for some time now. Dating back to 2020, ‘The Dominator’ revealed that the company had approached him to compete inside the squared circle. At the time, multiple issues prevented the pairing. Lashley was signed with WWE, only made possible by a special clause in his Bellator contract as noted in an interview with Fightful.
“I’m fighting until I can’t fight anymore,” said Lashley. “I just had a conversation with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship guy. We discussed going out there and doing a bare-knuckle fight. I still have an agreement with Bellator. I always thought I would find my way back to WWE. When I signed my Bellator contract, I had an out clause for the WWE. It said if WWE alone offered me a contract they would relieve me from the Bellator contract.
“[Bellator MMA President] Scott Coker is an amazing guy. The fact he gave me that contract was just incredible. But since he gave me it, I still have fights with Bellator and can fight with them, which is a really good thing,” Lashley concluded.
BKFC has been on a signing spree over the last couple of years, bringing in former UFC competitors such as ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry, Felice Herrig, John Dodson, and Paige VanZant. BKFC president Dave Feldman recently discussed the possibility of signing UFC megastar Nate Diaz following his bout with Khamzat Chimaez at UFC 279.
“I think it would be a great fit for our organization,” said Feldman. “Let’s see what happens with this fight that they just announced in the UFC with him.”
Featured image credit to Embed from Getty Images
Featured image credit to Embed from Getty Images
